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" UlilED STATES 1,712,564 PATENT OFFICE..

PERIVAL W1 JNES, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 ROSENI-IEIM C0. ING., OF PROVIDENGE,.RHODE ISLAND, CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CHAIN.

Application filed August 25, 1928. Serial No. 302,093.

This invention relates to a chain for use as a bracelet or strap tor holding a watch on the wrist ot the wearer; and has for its b jee' to provide Van extremely flexible, thin band which will be light in weight and com ttortable to the wearer. p

il. further object of the invention is the provision ot a chain which will present a smootln Hat inner or bottom surface for engagement with the arm of the wearer to aftord great comfort in being worn and at the same time give a hnished ornamental appearance 'to the rear surface ot the chain.

rlhe invention further consists in the provision ot hollow sheet metal iiller member carried by each body link between the ends oil the arms embracing); the connecting links, which locks the arms in position and atl'ords a highly attractive appearance to the back of the bracelet. y

Vlith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features ot' constructioin as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. i

ln the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view oi the links of the bracelet in connected series.`

lig. 2 is a bottom View thereof.

liigg. 3 is a perspective view oit' the body link.

llin. l is a perspective view of the connectinn` trame link.

Fin. 5 is aperspective view ot thetiller member. y y

lign is a bottom view showing' the relation oi the body link and connecting frame linkbetore the arms of the body link are in itolded position.

Fig. 7 isa bottom view showing the arms of the body link as toldedaboutportions oi' the traine connecting; link.

liigrj 8 is a bottom view showing the liller member as positioned in the assembly as illustrated in Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 is a bottom view showingl the next step in the assembly after Figi. 8, with the side fingers of the body link folded into position. i y

liipfl() is a sectional-view on line 10b-10 oi Fig. 9.

11 is a sectional view on line 11--11 of 9.

In chain structures such as are used as bracelets or used as straps tor wrist watches, it is desirable that the same be thin, light in weight and smooth to the wrist as well as extremely flexible in order that great comiort may be atlforded to the wearer oit the same7 and in order to accomplish these re cults7 I have provided a series of sheet metal body links each having arms to extend thru the 'trame connecting links, the latter havinpits end portions yotlset sufficiently to` lie flush on the bottom surface with the Afolded arms, and I have also provided a filler member positioned in the space between these folded arms and flush therewith on the bottom surface, which is held in place by iingers on the sides of each oit the links which are folded in to engage the ends of the ller member and which also lie flush on their bottom sur'lace with the folded arms and the surface presented by the iiller member; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment ot this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference tothe drawings, 12 desigf nates the body link which is made ot sheetmetal and has a top plate 13 with end arms 15, each of which extends thru the frameshaped connecting links 16 at each end thereoi, to join the adjacent body links together.

The trame link 16 is generally rectangular in shape with a central opening 17 forming side bars 18 which are swaged to be substantially round in construction andin the same swaging operation the ends 20 of this trame link are offsetlso that when the end arms are wrapped about the cross bars 18 they will lie substantially flush with the offset portions of the trame connecting links, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 11.

By hinging the body links together in this manner an extremely flexible connection is termed and due to the rounding of' the cross bars and folding of the end arms thereabout a substantially perfect pivotal or hinge action is provided such that the adjacent links may be` swung back to back without danger of breakin g1; the bracelet. y

In order to make a smoother back surface for the chain structure, a Filler member 21 which' is of substantially channel shape in cross section, as illustrated in, Figs. 5` and ll.. is formed from sheet stock with its bottom wall 22 and opposite substantially parallel walls 23 extending at substantially rightan- @les from the bottom wall The dimension of the parallel walls 23 is such that when Y this filler is positioned in a link with its edges in contact with the top plate 13, as illustrated in Fig. 11, its bottom wall 22-will lie flush with the folded arms to make a smooth bottom surface for the bracelet.

' Each of the` ends of the filler member .is formed as illustrated at 24, in Fig. 5, to lie in contact with the bottom surface of the top plate 13 and the side fingers 14 of each of the links are folded inwardly toward each otherto overlie these portions Q4 and securely hold this member in osition.

Itwill befobserve that the extent of the bottom surface of the filler member is of a width substantially that of the Width of the frame connector links so that when the side fingers are folded inwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the bottom surface of the bracelet lies substantially in a single plane throughout its extent forsmooth contact with'the vwrist of the wearer.

The filler member 2l lits snugly between the ends of the arms l'and prevents their moving upwardly to unlock, and thus in addition to providing a smooth surface of a inoi'e ornamental appearance it also serves as a lock to prevent the ai'ins frein an opening `movement dueto longitudinal strains 'exerted upon the chain'or bracelet and is formed of thin sheet stock suitably 'shaped to present the desired surface of an extremely light construction and yet one strong and durable in operation is provided.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I Vdesire it .to be understood that reserve theoprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes tov which the device is susceptible,

Y the invention being defined and limited only Veo by the terms of the appended claims.

Irclaim:

1. A chain comprising a series of sheet metal bodyy links and frame links connecting the same, leach of the adjacent body links having an arm extending thru and folded about afra'me link to connect them together,y

and a member positioned in each body link between the ends ofthe folded-in arms'to fill .the space therebetween..`

i' 2; A cha-in comprising a series of sheet metal body links and frame links connectin the same, l each of-'the adjacent body links vhaving an arm extending thru and folded about a frame link to connect them together,

a member positioned in each body link between the' ends of the folded-in arms toY fill `the space therebetween, and fingers on the lsides of each of said body links folded over the vmembers therein to hold the Ysame in from, a frame link thru which arms of adjacent body links extend and are folded thereabout, said finger being folded inwardly from each side and flush on the bottom surface with the folded-in arms, and a filler member in each link between the ends of the arms and flush therewith with its ends extending between said fingers and the top plate whereby the same is held in position.

4. A chain comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular sheet metal body links, each having a top plate with end arms extending rearwardly therefrom, rectangular frame links with an open center and of a width less than the width of the body link, the arms of adjacent body links extendin thru the opening of a frame link and folded thereabout to hingedly connect the links together, the side of the frame links being offset to lie flush with the folded arms.

5. A chain comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular sheet metal body links, each having a top plate with end arms extending rearwardly therefrom, rectangular trame links with an open center and of a width less than the width of the body lilik,

the arms 0f adJaCent body links extending thru the opening of a frame link and folder thereabout to liingedly connect the links together, the sides of the frame links being offset to lie flush with the folded arms, a filler member between the arms of each link substantially channel shape in cross section with the edges of its opposite walls substantially in Contact with the top plate and of a dimension to space its bottom wall flush with said folded arms.

6. A chain comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular sheet metal body links.l

each having a top plate with end arms and side fingers .extending rearwardly therefrom, rectangular frame links with an open center and of a width less than the width of the body link, the arms of adjacent bodylinks extending thru the opening of a frame link and folded thereabout to hingedly connect the links together, the side of the frame links being offset to lie flush with the folded arms, a filler member between the arms of each link substantially channel shape in cross section g with the edges of its opposite walls substantially in contact with the top plate and of a dimension to space its bottom wall flush with said folded arms, and the portions of said member beyond the sides of said frame link extending substantially in contact with said top plate and said side fingers folded over said extensions to hold the members in place, said folded-over fingers lying substantially flush with the folded arms and said filler member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PERCIVAL W. JONES. 

